App rejected for sandbox purchasing issues

App Store Distribution & Marketing App Review App Review

raymondatripl OP

Created Nov ’18

Replies 36

Boosts 0

Views 12k

Participants 34

Hi,

Our app recently has been getting rejected for not being able to purchase, even though when we test on both development signed builds (xcode with Sandbox users), and with TestFlight, the sandbox purchasing is working fine.

The app store reviewers insist it is a problem with handling sandbox receipts, but we already correctly do the suggested approach of first validating with the prod endpoint, and then trying the sandbox one if the specific error is returned. Additionally, our data seems to indicate that the reviewers are getting the errors BEFORE we even get to the stage of verifying the receipt.

The errors are usually "Cannot connect to iTunes store" or other similarly unhelpful messages that indiciate a generic problem when issuing a SKReceiptRefreshRequest.

Recently, our in app purchases had new Description text added, but when they reject the build they turn red and say "Proposed changes have been rejected". Is this a symptom or a cause? Does that mean they got rejected because the app got rejected? Or could it be causing the problems somehow? Regardless, changing this text seemed to lead to the same rejection....

We can't really file a bug report because we cannot reproduce the errors that the app reviewers are experiencing... what should we do?

Boost

Wsho OP

May ’21

Hi Rich,

I've been facing the same issue, my app is being rejected even though when testing with Test Flights on real devices it works.

I sent you an email as well.

App ID: 1562118226

Thanks,
Donald

Marini OP

May ’21

Hi Rich,

We are facing the same issue, which reviewer cannot finish IAP because app store return empty product list. However, it works well in our test.

I sent you an email as well.

App ID: 1550078466

Thanks

NicolasMht OP

May ’21

Hi Rich, we have the same issue for the last 7 days now.

I have the same problem, my IAP App was rejected but IAP in sandbox and TestFlight is fine.

Apple ID: 1566451825

Thank you very much.

lgzhu OP

Jun ’21

In-App Purchase failure in the apple's review, when the purchase failed, error code 0 , "An unknown error occurred", but works in the Testflight&sandbox. Is there anything that I missed？ anyone found a solution， Thanks for your help AppleD:1557609456

LR_FR OP

Aug ’21

My deep search on this forum leads me to say thanks very much Rich for your involvement and reactions regarding the IN-APP famous failure, Fortunately, you are here, because as developers we felt misunderstood, frustrated, and desperate about this recurrent failure..

After 7th rejections, I am approximatively in the same situation described in this thread (app reviewers fetch products with a returned empty set of in-app items, they receive an empty answer in the "productsRequest didReceive" method in answer to the SKProductsRequest(productIdentifiers:) request)

I sent a request to the Technical Support (as you suggested, I read a lot of your advice!) but it was apparently sent to the App Review support with no success.. I requested an appeal and I am waiting for the scheduled call from the nice guys of the App Review teams..

If by chance you read this message, Rich, here is my App ID: 1576135970

Thank you very much

MatWeasyo OP

Jan ’22

Hi Rich,

We have the same issue since this week.

I sent you an email as well.

App ID: 1552901420

Thanks, Mat

Maria-Elyware OP

Jan ’22

Hi, we have the same issue, It works correctly in TestFlight and in debug. App Id : 1593894245 We have already sent email.

lyright OP

Feb ’22

Hi Rich,

Our App was rejected during the review because StoreKit returned invalid product id when request product information, but the sandbox test and testflight test is ok.

App ID: 1605737346, 1605738844

I've already sent you email, thank you so much,

Leo Young

EricKim OP

Feb ’22

Hi Rich,

We are facing the same issue since last week.

I sent you an email as well.

App ID: 1585293099

Thanks,

SESISOFT Co., Ltd.

sang hee OP

Feb ’22

Hi Rich,

We have the same issue and our app was rejected twice.

When I test in-app purchases via Sandbox Testers and TestFlight, it works fine. But when review team test iap, purchase is failed - "invalid product identifier" error.

I sent you an email as well. App ID: 1605733721

Thanks you so much.

MANA GAME FACTORY

pinhaotec OP

Mar ’22

Hello Rich,

we tried to contact the reviewer as we have the same issue as everybody, working fine in Testflight and locally, but didn't receive any answer so far.

our App ID is 1611373674 and we'll send you an email as well.

Best regards